I Thought it was an April Fool’s Joke…

but it quickly dawned on me that it’s not April! Did everyone see the headlines this morning? The Holy Father has turned in his resignation!

Pope Benedict XVI will resign from his papal office, effective February 28 at 8:00 PM local time.

“Dear Brothers, I have convoked you to this Consistory, not only for the three canonizations, but also to communicate to you a decision of great importance for the life of the Church,” he said in a statement addressed to cardinals. “After having repeatedly examined my conscience before God, I have come to the certainty that my strengths, due to an advanced age, are no longer suited to an adequate exercise of the Petrine ministry.”

“…..the See of Rome, the See of Saint Peter, will be vacant and a Conclave to elect the new Supreme Pontiff will have to be convoked by those whose competence it is,” he added…”